Game Front’s (Completely Accurate) E3 Predictions

E3 2012 is only a dozen days away, and it’s time to get down to the dirty business of predicting what will happen when the annual trade show kicks off. In the spirit of both optimism and pragmatism, read on for the prognostications of four Game Front writers. We’ve got high hopes for E3 2012, but realistic expectations.

C.J. Miozzi

Topic:
Activision’s Press Conference

What I Hope Happens:
That Activision announces it will no longer be releasing CoD titles on a yearly basis in order to let games in the series benefit from a longer development cycle, then showcase some truly innovative features the team has been working on.

What Will Happen:
Activision will show us more of the same while trying to convince us it’s new and improved.

Topic:
Bethesda’s Press Conference

What I Hope Happens:That Bethesda will prove The Elder Scrolls Online will be a great game and true to the series with solid examples of gameplay elements, even video.

What Will Happen:
Bethesda will desperately attempt to prove The Elder Scrolls Online will be a great game and true to the series with nebulous talk about developer intent, design focus, and reassuring language.

Topic:
Epic Game’s Press Conference

What I Hope Happens:
That Epic announces Unreal Tournament 4 in a glorious reveal that recaptures the series’ divided fan base.

What Will Happen:
Epic will show us some awesome eye candy with tech demos for its engine and make us wish consoles would stop bottlenecking technological advancement in the industry.

Ross Lincoln

Topic:
Take-Two

What I Hope Happens:
Rockstar actually announces GTA V’s October release date just before E3, confirming that the delays of BioShock Infinite and XCOM were intended to create a hole for the return to San Andreas. Spec Ops: The Line, Borderlands 2, NBA 2K13 and surprisingly, BioShock Infinite, are all shown off at E3 proper, and it’s confirmed each game is being developed for PC first, then ported to consoles. James Harden hired to promote NBA 2K13 on the floor.

What Will Happen:
GTA V’s release date not confirmed, yet again. Take-Two announces that BioShock Infinite has been delayed to May, 2013, due to a decision to strip out the single player campaign entirely in favor of a completely multiplayer experience. Spec Ops: The Line delayed to October 23, 2012, dashing hopes of a 2012 GTA V release. Metta World Peace hired to promote NBA 2K13 on the floor.

Topic:
WiiU

What I Hope Happens:
Nintendo finally realizes that they need a console that actually works for more than shutting up your angry elder relatives or passing the time with friends after you’re all too drunk for conversation. WiiU is shown off in its fully functional form, and it turns out to be kind of awesome. Better, they confirm that new Mario, Zelda, Metroid (developed in house for a change), and Pikmin games will be released on launch day, and that a sequel to Eternal Darkness is due 5 months later.

What Will Happen:
WiiU units at E3 are barely functional mockups using 3DS screens to suggest what the final product will look like. The controller turns out to be even worse than Wii, with the player required to simultaneously look at both the screen on the controller AND the television, while balancing on beach ball. Release date for Christmas, 2012 is confirmed, but the first slate of games includes Luigi’s Mansion 2.

Topic:
Mass Effect 3

What I Hope Happens:
Huge preview of the Extended Edition shows promise that the company has actually paid attention to complaints. In addition, it is confirmed that no further multiplayer DLC is planned, and future DLC after the Extended Edition will expand the narrative. It won’t be free, but it will deliver the experience players actually paid for.

What Will Happen:
Mass Effect Extended Edition confirmed to add 5 more color choices. GOTY edition confirmed, but all Tuchanka missions will be removed from and made available to GOTYE purchasers as DLC. EA claims with a straight face that they actually didn’t create the Tuchanka missions until after the game was completed.

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